Evening Buzz: Reviving NOLA's Music Scene
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Tonight we bring you an AC 360° Special Report, "In Katrina's Wake: Building Up America." Anderson is back in New Orleans with the fifth anniversary of the storm just days away. He's reporting live from the Musicians' Village in the city's Upper Ninth Ward, which provides local musicians, and others who qualify, a new place to call home. There are 82 single-homes and duplexes in the area. The idea came from famed musicians Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis.
Anderson talked with Connick and Branford's father, Ellis, about the resurging music scene in New Orleans. We'll have that interview for you. They also discussed the centerpiece of the village: the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, which will help develop the city's future musicians. Today during a celebration workmen attached a fleur de lis to the roof of the center. As you'd likely suspect, there was a lot of music played during the event. We'll have that video for you, as well.
Five year after Katrina, you'll also hear from Michael Brown, who was the head of FEMA when the storm hit. Four days into the disaster, President Bush infamously told him, "Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job." But at the time New Orleans and much of the Gulf were in ruins. More than 1,700 people were killed in the storm, and the survivors were wondering why the government was taking so long to help those in need. Days after Pres. Bush's feedback Brown resigned.
Brown is back in New Orleans trying to clear his name. He brought his radio show to the city this week. We caught up with him. Hear what he has to say about his disgraced image and what he would have done differently after Katrina hit.
See you at 10 p.m. eastern for these stories and much more.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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We all felt helpless; – helplessness. We couldn't believe the Government didn't come. It was then – I had a realization as I'm sure most Americans' realized – if this happened again – chances are- we'd have to fend for ourselves. Question becomes: Are we prepared?
Michael Brown just confirmed what we in New Orleans knew all the time: he lied! He called it "disconnet" but he knew the aid was not getting here quickly. We knew this ourselves from wathing the news from Dallas. I am so sick of these guys, those responsible for the management of Katrina to those responsible for BP's oil spill.
Talk about another Bush / Cheney DISASTER – Fema trailers contaminated and un-usable. Talk about $ waste.
I think there are a lot of people that hang on the coat tails of others, Anderson. This former head of FEMA was one such animal. Obviously, not a leader.
So far this is a good retrospective – the images burned in our minds from 5 years ago juxtaposed to the places built back today. I would like to know how much of the city has not even been started to be built back.
So Michael Brown is going to speak for himself and his mistakes; hearing what he would have done different will be interesting. Looking forward to tonight's show.
More so now – than ever before, the Gulf region needs America's generosity. Come visit.
Yes, we all remember when KATRINA CAME & THE GOVERNMENT, DIDN'T. Let's not forget that part, okay ? – Especially since Mr. Obama has been there since Day 1 regarding the BP disaster. Let's not forget Mr. Obama staved [off] the next Great Depression – which was handed to him on a silver-plated platter by the Bush / Cheney Administration.
I don't know if LA will ever really recover; certainly not in our life times' – we certainly have zero idea what long term effect the BP dispersant s will have on the sea food we will be digesting.
I hope the new levies they're building are strong enough to withstand another great hurricane; global warming assures us irregular and wicked weather patterns, so we better be prepared.